ColinK

That’s going to be an interesting one to sort out. As a coach, especially a tri-axle like this one, turns right the left rear corner swings to the left resulting in accidents like this. Structures like canopies should be set back far enough (or high enough) to prevent this kind of event happening. So while the coach driver will get part of the blame, part of the blame should be down to the building designer (or failure by whoever specified the design to allow for rail replacement coaches), maybe if there was a rail replacement co-ordinator present he/she told the coach to go there. The key point for everyone is be very careful when passing a bus, coach or lorry that is going to turn left or right as the tail will swing out possibly into your path. Much to the anger of motorists, some drivers of big vehicles will deliberatly block both lanes when turning to prevent other motorists squeezing past and getting hit by the rear corner of the big vehicle. Of course there is always the stupid person on a cycle or motorbike who will try and squeeze through the gap and put themselves at risk of getting squashed.

D1015 made it to Kyle-of-Lochalsh in 2009 (?), great trip.

Here is one I made a very long time ago. The loco is an Airfix Evening Star kit.

Hornby have some great running locos, wrong type for you, but the Hornby 08 shunter is a superb slow speed runner. If you can find a Model Rail magazine Sentinel, it’s a fantastic slow speed shunter, and despite only having 4 wheels it picks up well. I’ve fitted mine with a 0-16.5 scratchbuilt body and its run for hours at exhibitions without ever stuttering.

Play banjo music on the pa at unstaffed stations and that will soon drive the anti-social elements away,

Used them a lot recently for Kato N gauge bits. Excellent service plus useful advice.

When stations are destaffed, the station toilets will close eg Hebden Bridge. How will people who only have cash buy a ticket?

I had a Heljan 27 with a similar problem. Turned out that one of the resistors on the circuit board was kaput. Tested each resistor individually with a meter and one was , IIRC, not letting any juice through. The kind chap who suggested that could be the problem even sent me a replacement resistor.

Job done. Started with a layer of DAS, that wasn’t too level and had a few cracks, so topped it with a thin coat of finishing pollyfiller. Left it several days to dry out. Today I mixed a concoction of various muddy colours plus some old black and brown weathering powders (too course to use for weathering stock) that I found under my workbench. Brushed the paste on the yard surface. Then sprinkled some very fine weathering powders of different shades in various places to break up the single muck colour. These were not sinking into the paint as I hoped so rubbed the surface with a bit of kitchen roll. I’ve got bits of plastic channel filled with the mucky paste to go between the rails, once the paint is dry. I’m happy with the result - it’s a brickworks yard hence the choice of shades. I think it will do. Lots of detail yet to be added.

I used the recommended Lilliput O&K shunter chassis obtained secondhand. However, it is to a newer design than that used in the instructions as it has lighting, a working roof beacon and DCC socket. A fair bit of work was needed to the chassis to make it fit, as a result I didn't narrow it as that would have made it difficult to fit to the body.

Tall ships at Hartlepool today.

On Thursday I attended a music session in Newcastle at lunchtime and another in Hexham in the evening (both a long way from home). I needed some model railway scenic bits and spotted that we had time to go to Durham Trains of Stanley between the sessions. Great shop, lots of stock, well laid out, friendly and helpful. Got everything I needed. Excellent. Might be a few more diversions where we are back up in the North East.

I really don’t believe what the operators say. For example putting staff on the concourse might happen at major stations, but I just can’t see it happening at smaller stations eg Morecambe, I anticipate these will become unstaffed eventually. While it might in theory save costs, it becomes a barrier to travel, so fewer people will go by train (lower income and more savings follow by cutting services), but increased costs repairing all the vandalism. Furthermore, our trains are all too frequently replaced with buses, who is going to help passengers who find there train is cancelled.

I went over to video and photograph the remaining BnM lines earlier this year. Had an excellent time and made very welcome by the staff. I’ll post a link to the video once it’s edited - will be later in the year though. I’ve also made one of the Narrow Planet Waggonmasters, but really want a 7mm scale version.

I’m building a 009 micro layout which includes a factory yard which I’ve made using DAS. While I could just paint the yard surface using various dark and dirty paints from tester pots, this doesn’t have any texture to it and looks ‘flat’. Hence I was wondering if anyone has tried using weathering powders to add some texture. I was thinking of first giving the DAS a coat of dark and dirty colours as a base. Then give it a second coat, but adding weathering powders. Has anyone tried this? Did it work? I’m not sure how best to add the weathering powder, do you mix it into the paint then apply the paste, or do you paint the surface then sprinkle the weathering powder on? Thanks.

And its neighbour, uses a window and doors off the Scale Model Scenery kit.

The building is finally finished on the third attempt. The first one was a Scale Model Scenery kit, but I messed up the paper overlay so it ended up in the bin. As I still had the windows and doors I tried scratchbuilding one, but slightly larger, that’s the one at the start of this thread, but I wasn’t totally happy, plus some of the windows had vanished, so that got scrapped. So for the third attempt I bought another Scale Model Scenery kit, but instead of using the paper overlays, I covered it in embossed plasticard and painted it. To make the arches over the windows I used microstrip cut into individual bricks; they looked a bit rough until painted. To give it more relief I made the centre section stand out using a bit of 6mm balsa. So here is the completed low relief warehouse. If you are wondering about the name (made from Slaters letters) it is inspired by Friden Brickworks in Derbyshire, but not a copy of a real building there. All I’ve got to do now is complete the 009 micro layout it is going on.

Excellent news, but what about one for the other end of the train?

The bluegrass band I play in has several banjos and an acordian, plus three bass players!

That’s a shame, may be worth contacting him in case he has anything suitable in stock.

Thanks for all the mudic jokes everyone. I’ve enough now to fill the time when banjos are retuning.

Has anyone got any music jokes? The bluegrass band I play in has got a rare gig on Thursday and I’ve been asked to introduce our songs. Could do with a few jokes to occupy the audience while people retune their instruments.

Try Kitwood Hill models - he makes kits for tirntables large to tiny.

We’ve had big problems with our Skoda too (a Fabia). We get often get messages on the dashboard saying ‘change key fob battery’. The longest we’ve gone without getting the message is four weeks, the shortest 24 hours, most commonly about 14 days. Both key fobs have this problem. I don’t think its anything other than the car/key fobs creating the problem as one night well away from home the key fob battery suddenly failed (24 hours after having a new battery fitted by the Skoda dealer) and it would not unlock the doors. Had to get in by the emergency method of prising up a bit of trim on one of the doors to reveal a keyhole (luckily the car wasn’t too close to a wall as there is only a hidden keyhole on one door). Of course it then wouldn’t start as there is only a start button. Keys have been replaced under warranty but the problem has continued. Oddly, the Skoda dealer. says we must only use ‘special batteries’ from them (look like standard CR2032 batteries). However, I don’t think the problem is the key fob batteries - I’ve tried testing the batteries after getting the message saying replace them and the voltage has been fine. Skoda HQ have been involved but neither them nor the dealer have any idea what is causing the problem. We ended up saying that if the problem is not fixed by a certain date then we will reject the car as not fit for purpose. Skoda accepted that. However, after the latest service the problem has not recurred yet.

Being Southport you will not need to model the sea.